Sensei's Daily Encouragement - 8 June 2020 - Year of Advancement and Capable People

    Daily Encouragement by Daisaku Ikeda

Wednesday, June 8, 2020

 President Toda often said that the final four or five years of one's life are decisive. No matter how good the preceding years may have been, one's life ends in defeat and sadness if the final few years are miserable. On the other hand, someone whose last four or five years are happy and filled with joy can be described a winner in life. No matter what happens, even if we should fall sick, we must never grow discouraged or allow ourselves to be defeated. This is vital. As long as our spirits are undefeated, we are victors.

 

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  From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin

Wednesday, June 8, 2020

 Be resolved to summon forth the great power of faith, and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo with the prayer that your faith will be steadfast and correct at the moment of death. Never seek any other way to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death, and manifest it in your life.

  The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, page 218

The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life

Written to Sairen-bo Nichijo on February 11, 1272 

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Wisdom for Modern Life by Daisaku Ikeda

Wednesday, June 8, 2020

 Every child is precious. The Lotus Sutra tells the parable of the three kinds of medicinal herbs and two kinds of trees. There are many different kinds of plants, their shape, size and nature come in myriad varieties. Some plants grow fast while others take time to mature. In this parable, however, the heavens rain upon all the plants equally, nurturing their growth. And the plants blossom and bear fruits according to their own unique character. This parable symbolizes the Buddha's vast compassion to nurture all living beings despite their differences. All children are different, each possesses his or her wonderful unique quality. We must pour upon all children our great love and compassion so that each child can blossom, true to his or her unique quality.

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 Excerpt from Daisaku Ikeda - A Youthful Diary (01 March 1954) p.160

At 6:00, a lecture for the Study Department's fifth level on Nichikan's "Commentary on 'The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind.'" We studied the commentary on the passage, "Shakyamuni's however, is the Buddhism of the harvest, and this is the Buddhism of sowing" (WND, 370).

Beginning at 7:30, President Toda lectured for one hour to all Study Department members on methods of teaching. A truly interesting and profound discussion, one that should be digested thoroughly.